HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Victoria Abrams and
Maddie Nichols pitched a combined shutout and led the ULM softball team (19-10, 2-1 Sun Belt) to a 3-0 win over Southern Miss (12-14, 1-2) in the rubber game of the series, giving the Warhawks the series victory on Sunday (March 17) night at the USM Softball Complex. With the win, it marks the fourth-straight season ULM has won its first conference series of the season, a streak that dates back to 2021.
Abrams tossed 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out one. Nichols shut the door with authority, and struck out the final five batters of the game for her first save of the season.
Lourdes Bacon placed a bunt down the line and singled to start the game and stole second during the next at bat. She was left at second base to end the inning. Abrams worked around a leadoff single and retired the next three USM batters for a scoreless first.
Maryssa Zenzen singled down the right field line at the start of the second inning.
Elle Carter followed with a four-pitch walk. ULM capitalized on a Southern Miss error on a sac bunt by
Jacelyn Buck that scored Zenzen and Carter to give ULM the lead.
With one out in the third,
Meagan Brown singled up the middle before being caught stealing for the second out.
Andie Edwards lined a hit to left center for ULM's second hit of the inning. Zenzen ripped a double off the right field fence, but Edwards was cut down at the plate to end the inning. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the third. Abrams got out of the jam with a fielder's choice, and the score remained 2-0 in favor of the Warhawks. USM again threatened in the fourth inning with runners at the corners and two outs. Bacon made an incredible, diving catch for the third out in left center and ULM maintained the shutout after four innings.
Carys Platt singled with two outs in the fifth and added to ULM's hit total. Abrams threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth inning in the circle. After Abrams recorded the first out of the sixth, Nichols took over in the circle with one out and a runner on first. Nichols struck out both batters to end the inning and sent the game into the seventh with ULM up 2-0. Buck began the final inning with a base hit to left. With
Brooklin Lippert pinch running,
Kelsey Giddens moved her over on a sacrifice bunt.
Taylor Broddick followed with an RBI hit that scored Lippert and gave the Warhawks an insurance run heading into the last half of the seventh. Nichols dominated in the circle and fanned the final three Golden Eagles she faced to give ULM a 3-0 win and a series win in the first weekend of conference play.
ULM returns to Monroe to face Southeastern in a midweek game on Wednesday (March 20) at 6 p.m. before welcoming South Alabama for its next conference series.
